Northerner

Business Android Apps

If you have an android phone you'll want to check out some cool apps in the android market place. Just go to the category of Business and you'll see a screen showing Top Paid and Top Free apps.

Starting with Top Free Apps

Documents to Go: Helps you carry all your excel and word documents. You will want to upgrade to the paid version for full functionality.

OpenOffice: If you don't like Microsoft you can use openoffice documents which is free. The only downside is you cannot open docx or xlsx files which you need Microsofts version. Most people don't use this anyways.

Box: This is a cool cloud storage hosting program. Great for working with clients. Also if you need clients to upload large files to you and don't want to do it through email use Box, also known as box.net and get the job done the best way.

Skype: You need this for your tablet or mobile phones. Important for messaging, video conferencing and screensharing.

Facebook: Great business app as long as you don't waste time on facebook. Also great app to use for conferences when all else fails.

LinkedIn: Another must have app for business men. This is also a useful messaging service.

Astrid Tasks: Get your tasks done with this app. The only downside is this app is too dark, on the upside maybe it saves more power.

Remember the Milk: Same thing as Astrid just different company for doing the same thing, marking down your to do lists and getting things done, as in GTD. This app is far easier on the eyes but they used to charge money to make it useful but they have since gone back on their deal so you can still use it functionally for free.

Looking for more android apps?

http://gaffg.com/blog/best-android-apps-webmasters-2011/

iphone 4 vs Samsung Galaxy S

Head to head Samsung Galaxy S takes on the Apple iPhone 4. Read the latest smart phone reviews to help you make the right choice.

The smart phone market is heating up with serious competition. The mobile operating systems markets are getting fierce and this means the smart phone buyer is the person that wins. The 4 main operating systems that are competing with each other are the iOS, Android, Blackberry OS and Windows 7 Mobile. Of course the 2 biggest phones on the market go head to head which are the Apple iPhone 4 and the Android Samsung Galaxy S.

Apple iPhone 4 Review

The new Apple iPhone 4 is definitely very cool. If you compare it to the iPhone 3 it definitely looks sharper and runs faster as well. The biggest advantage the iPhone has over any other smart phone is that it has been on the market for years now and this means more applications. If there is an application you want you will probably find it on the iphone first. Perhaps the disadvantage of using the iOS (iphone operating system) is that Apple is against flash technology and doesn't support it. This means many websites won't work on the iPhone. The other problem is that Apple sometimes blocks applications so developers don't want to invest time and money making applications knowing Apple may decide to block them without any explanation. This means the future of applications will go to Android market while the current market is dominated by Apple.

Samsung Galaxy S Android

The google Android operating system is certainly exciting to watch as it's now the fastest growing section of the mobile markets. Apple eats a hefty profits on their iPhones so there is a price and performance advantage to other mobile phones like Samsung models. If you have to pick a smart phone based on technical performance or even price then Android phones are the easy choice. The touch screen uses super AMOLED screen and the camera is 5 megapixel plus 720p high definition (HD) video.

iphone Android matchup winner

The Samsung Galaxy S is the winner. The phone is wide open for developers and easier for them to work with. Technical specifications the Samsung is far superior than the iPhone. Applications Apple gets the win but for future prospects Android is something to take into consideration.

Futureshop service

My futureshop service experience at the 460 St. Catherine Ouest, Montreal was a terrible one with the worst sales reps you will ever find. One day I went there asking for a computer which I was told to wait while they get one. That guy couldn't be found for 20 minutes so I left the store.

I returned a week later to get another model. I said if I spent $600 I'd like a free USB key which I was rudely told no, so I said ok no computer. I was then offered discounted warranty service but that doesn't help. Instead I bought the computer but didn't go with any sales rep as I didn't want them to get commission and they did admit they get commission. The guy said a $10 USB would give him negative commission so I guess he makes less than $10 on $600 in sales... right.

Well if you look at the main floor you will find sales reps that stand around. They will not talk to you unless you have a product in your hand. If you walk to the cashier with a product they will try to grab it from you to 'fast assist' you to the cashier. I had one rep do this who tried to take the credit card out of my wallet and kept asking me how I will pay. The sales lady was handling my transaction and this guy was useless and really bothered me. I told her that nobody in the store helped me where it seems she removed the creepy stalker sales guy from the commission of that sale. 

I appreciate help but I don't appreciate being treated like this. This is certainly the last time I buy anything from Futureshop and I'd recommend any other store. If you want computers try tigerdirect.ca or canadacomputers.com. If you want futureshop service then expect to be highly disappointed.

Blackberry disappoints with new phone

Research in Motion (RIM) has tried to piggy back off of the iphone 4 antennaegate news and use it to promote their new phone, the blackberry bold 9800. Well they announced their new phone and has left everyone wondering if they truly intend to compete with the likes of the apple iphone and the google android phone.

The big problem for the blackberry is that most iphone users don't want to switch while only about 40% of blackberry users are thinking of keeping the same type of phone. This means that close to 60% of blackberry users are considering another type of smart phone. 

Blackberry is hanging onto the only thing that made them unique which was their reliable keyboard that was comfortable with all users and seemed to be the only keyboard based phone to survive. 

Amazon Kindle ebooks sells more than hardcovers

The Amazon Kindle has recently surpassed ebook sales more than hardcovers according to the media giant. Amazon is now selling ebooks at a rate of nearly 2:1 for ebooks to hard covers. If you have ever used a Kindle you will know how neat a toy it is yet practical for reading. It is lightweight and doesn't use much power. If you want to take 10 books with you then you don't have to lug around 10 heavy books.

If you're conscious about the environment then your Kindle will save on paper and that's less trees to be cut down. Truth be told that these new reading devices are going to completely replace hardcovers and it is only a matter of time before hardcovers become obsolete. No more having to worry about getting your books dirty or messing up the pages. No need to borrow books just download them to your kindle and off you go.

Windows Phone 7

Coming to a store near you will be the Windows Phone 7. Since Microsoft has fallen far behind in the mobile operating system markets they have finally stepped up to the plate and are expected to launch their Windows Phone 7 later in 2010. 

The Windows Phone 7 copies all the good features you can find on the iphone and Google's Android. Would it be worth getting one of these Windows phones? Probably not but best wait until it launches but unless it does something different that iphone or android doesn't do, then expect this product and OS to be a flop.

Apple offers refund, case in iphone 4

Steve Jobs insults other makers including RIM claiming they have same reception and antenna problems as the iphone 4.

The new iphone 4 has sold nearly 2 million units worldwide but had an antennae problem and is now being called antennaegate. Steve Jobs recently announced that Apple isn't perfect and they are offering users a full refund and a case for the phone but avoided a recall which many consumers were calling for. A recall would have cost the company too much money and given the company a bigger black eye than what it has already.

Steve Jobs took the apology sent to consumers and wrapped it with a few punches on the competition claiming that they have identical signal problems too. Jim Balsillie has warned Apple to back off on their company and claiming Apple's problems are unique and that RIM has their own antennae technology and is free of the same problems.

If you want the new iphone maybe get the iphone 3 instead or wait until Apple fixes their iphone 4.

iphone 4 problems

Consumer reports on the iphone 4 are telling people to stay away from this product. The hype for the new and improved phone has been overwhelming while Apple appears to have rushed the phone without doing enough testing. 

Everyone seems to want an iphone but based on all the reports of bad connectivity I think it is best to wait until Apple can find a way to fix it. According to Steve Jobs the solution to the problem was to not hold the phone in a certain way which sounds like a ridiculous suggestion.

Maybe the new iphone 4 is worth having but certainly not at the moment with it's connection problems.

The future of mobile phones

Mobile phones have changed plenty in the past 10 years but in the next 2 years we will see more changes than ever. As social media has taken over as the main activities done online these features become basic features for mobile phones. We went from calling, paging and basic texting into devices that can send emails, take pictures and upload on facebook, have msn chats and are even featuring video capabilities.

Data improvements

Many mobile service providers have slowed down the use of internet on mobile devices due to the price. It is understandable that these carriers don't want people downloading too much data on their phones but charging high rates might be a thing of the past. People want more data and services on their phone and they won't be able to afford $200 monthly phone bills for doing basic things like sending a few emails and uploading a few photos. Expect to see mobile service providers getting a bit more competitive and trying to out perform their competitors as their operating costs decrease for data transmission.

What can we expect from mobile phones in the future?

Within 2 years it is realistic to have a video call between 2 cell phones. This doesn't mean basic features like text will disappear but rather than cell phones will become an important tool that will be almost impossible to live without.

Google tablet on the horizon

The start of 2010 has been buzzing with news about the ipad released by Apple. Whenever one technology giant comes out with a new product the other giants are quick to copy. Hence the news release of the google table. 

The ipad also has another competitor to worry about which is the HP Slate. Nobody knows if these tablets will change the computing industry but this could become the end of the keyboard and mouse. 

It has been mentioned that HTC will be the main carrier and producer of the tablet which will also use the Android operating system. Since this is using Android and not Chrome this might be a tablet that links the mobile phone and laptop into 1 device, something the ipad won't come close to doing on it's first version but might change in the future.

At least with all of this competition the features should be given to the consumers at a faster rate and if produced in large quantities could become cheaper alternatives to laptops.